My husband and I saw the movie, "The Hunger Games," a couple weeks ago and though I was pretty sure I would like it, I found that movie surprisingly engaging and entertaining. I hadn't read the books yet which is different for me because I usually prefer to read a book before seeing the movie interpretation. But we had a day off and chose to see this movie.

I'm not a professional or even amateur movie reviewer--in fact this is the first time I've ever written about a movie--but I'm inspired to say what I liked about it.

1. I liked the way the story was introduced. It is a longer runway than in most action movies, but it was important to show the life Katniss Everdeen, her sister, mother and friends were leading and the more detail there was in the opening half hour, the more drawn in I became.

2. The violence in this movie was mostly implied and never gratuitous. Not that I'm squeamish. I just don't appreciate extreme violence, sex or any other thing in an artistic presentation that is there solely in order to force us to think the piece is extra super duper creative when it doesn't forward the story at all.

3. I loved Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. She has a unique look, an innocent beauty and she did a great job in her role. I could relate to Katniss. In fact, I liked the fact that both boys and girls are shown to have a potential to win based on skills and wit. Katniss' main skill is with a bow and arrow, which was cool.

4. I loved that the story line in this movie has a message and from what I've read, that message differs from one movie goer to the next. The message I got was that no matter how impossible the circumstances, doing what is right and what you believe in is going to be what is best for you and that if you have strong intentions to follow your own sense of what is right you will be able forge your way through, make the best possible decisions and basically, make it go right.

5. I also connected the whole idea of why the Capitol held the Hunger Games and how they controlled the society through the obtaining of food with the possibilities of a police state in our own society (not quite so dramatic as in the movie) and how easy it would be to control a population through food, for example through genetically modified foods which is a big topic right now amongst us natural food folks.

6. I loved Woody Harrelson in the role of Haymitch Abernathy. When he was first introduced as a former Hunger Game winner and a complete drunk, I started to write him off as a character actor but as the movie goes on he is brilliant as Katness' mentor.

7. If you're a person who volunteers for things, like me, this movie certainly gives some perspective as to the sacrifices one makes by volunteering compared to the risk Katniss took to protect her sister. I think I can certainly increase my level of volunteerism without risking my life.

8. Who could forget the very snarky remark made over and over by character Effie Trinket, "May the odds be ever in your favor." Eewww.

9. Seeing The Hunger Games movie has definitely gotten me interested in reading "The Hunger Games" books. And I plan to read all three books before the sequel comes out. I am really backed up on my reading but I will make time for these. I predict this book and movie series will continue to grow in popularity.

10. I've enjoyed writing my first review and telling you what I liked about this movie. For me, anything that inspires some writing is welcome.